International
| Foes challenge the United States on land and sea

by Mindy Belz Posted 6/01/20, 02:33 pm

IRAN: China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran all in recent days carried out provocations, taking advantage of a preoccupied United States—where 100,000 people have died of the coronavirus and six days of protests over racial injustice have activated military and National Guard units in 21 states.

International
| Insurgent violence continues unabated in Nigeria

by Onize Ohikere Posted 5/29/20, 06:05 pm

ABUJA, Nigeria—Suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked more than 10 settlements in the mostly Christian Adara community in central Nigeria over four days last week. At least 20 people died in the dayslong carnage that left several others injured or missing.

by Harvest Prude Posted 5/22/20, 11:51 am

President Donald Trump said Thursday that Russia has not complied with a 1992 agreement allowing reconnaissance flights over its territory. Thirty-five nations have signed the Open Skies Treaty to encourage accountability for buildups of military strength. Trump notified member nations that the United States plans to formally exit the agreement in six months but would reconsider if Russia committed to compliance.

International
| Plus more news and notes from around the world

Mindy Belz | 5/21/20, 05:05 pm

CHINA: Beijing’s National People’s Congress, delayed since March, opens on Friday as the government of President Xi Jinping lashes out at those who blame China for aiding the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday, President Donald Trump announced he may permanently freeze U.S. funding to the World Health Organization and reconsider its membership unless the WHO enacts reforms.

International
| The coronavirus continues to affect lives and livelihoods around the world

Mindy Belz | 5/07/20, 04:52 pm

BRITAINsurpassed Italy on Tuesday in reporting the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe—now at nearly 30,700 fatalities. Look at the faces of the U.K. church singing a blessing over the country during this pandemic.

International
| Pandemic prompts the release of international prisoners of conscience

Julia A. Seymour | 4/24/20, 05:25 pm

Mask-clad family members stood outside the red gate of a prison in Myanmar’s northern Shan state on Friday welcoming freed prisoners. Myanmar, also known as Burma, released 24,896 inmates as part of its annual pardon for the Buddhist New Year. This year, the ongoing pandemic added new importance to the tradition.

Around the world, countries are releasing inmates to decongest their prisons, fearing the coronavirus could spread rapidly inside overcrowded holding centers. The United States is working to ensure the growing trend includes prisoners of conscience.

Rachel Lynn Aldrich | 4/01/20, 11:01 am

Up to a quarter of those who contract COVID-19 don’t show symptoms but can still spread it. And the rest can likely transmit the virus up to 48 hours before symptoms arise, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield. “This helps explain how rapidly this virus continues to spread across the country,” he told WABE-FM in Atlanta.